Expert challenges decision to cancel race meeting

The Jockey Club has been challenged over its decision to cancel a Happy Valley race meeting on Wednesday night. File photo: RTHK

A risk expert said on Thursday that, in hindsight, the decision to cancel a Happy Valley horse race meeting was unfortunate, given that it was a specific threat targeting a specific member.

Protesters had threatened to disrupt the race because a horse co-owned by pro-Beijing legislator Junius Ho was due to run in the meeting on Wednesday night.

Steve Vickers, the chief executive of Steve Vickers and Associates, says it would have been better for the Jockey Club to approach Ho, rather than shut down the entire race and further politicise racing.

"The threat was to a specific member who had a share in a horse called 'Hong Kong Bet' ...," said Vickers. "The outcome is that we closed the course, cancelled the meeting and, I think, have further politicised racing."

"It could have been knocked on the head, I think, by some dialogue with the member concerned, given that the furore was aimed at the member, rather than the Jockey Club. He could have been compensated by the Jockey Club," he said.

Ho has been accused of backing a gang of men who attacked MTR passengers at Yuen Long Station in July.

He has also been pushing for action against any school children who support the ongoing protests.

Earlier in the summer, a group of people affiliated with the horse racing industry petitioned the Jockey Club to cancel Ho's membership and to ban his horse, Hong Kong Bet, from all races.